Coast Guard, agency partners interdict 4,000 pounds of marijuana

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Haddock offloads approximately 4,000 pounds of suspected marijuana at Coast Guard Sector San Diego, May 19, 2017. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Rob Simpson.

SAN DIEGO – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Haddock offloaded approximately 4,000 pounds of marijuana May 19, at Coast Guard Sector San Diego.

Haddock’s crew interdicted the contraband on May 18, southwest of San Diego.

At approximately 7 a.m. May 18, watchstanders at Sector San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center received notification from a good Samaritan of a disabled vessel offshore southwest of San Diego. A Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, aircraft located the vessel and vectored in the Haddock.

Once onboard the vessel, Haddock’s boarding team discovered packages of suspected marijuana.

The boarding team took custody of the two people aboard the vessel and Haddock’s crew took the vessel in tow to Sector San Diego.

“I am immensely proud of the crew and their professionalism during this case,” said Lt. j.g. Adam Derby, Haddock’s commanding officer. “Each and every one of them embodies our Coast Guard’s core values and dedication to the American people.”

The suspects were transferred to the custody of the San Diego Marine Task Force pending prosecution. The contraband and vessel were turned over to CBP AMO.

“Our strong interagency partnerships highlight this case’s success,” said Capt. Joseph Buzzella, commander, Sector San Diego. “The unique nature of the San Diego area makes these relationships essential, and the men and women of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism are outstanding professionals who work tirelessly and selflessly.”

The San Diego Regional Coordinating Mechanism is comprised of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations, Office of Air and Marine, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Coast Guard and other federal, state and local partners. Collectively, these regional partners conduct interagency operational planning and leverage agency authorities and jurisdictions to combat threat networks that seek to exploit the maritime approaches to the U.S.